Image processing apparatus, method, and computer-readable medium for controlling the display of an image

ABSTRACT

In one example embodiment, an information processing apparatus displays a first image associated with an observation target object. In this example embodiment, the first image has a first zoom magnification and a first display range which has a first center position. In one example embodiment, the information processing apparatus enables a user to change the first zoom magnification by selecting a first position of the displayed first image. In response to the first position being selected, the information processing apparatus displays a second image associated with the observation target image. In this example embodiment, the second image has a second zoom magnification which is different from the first zoom magnification. The second image also has a second display range which has a second center position which is different from the first center position. In this example embodiment, the second center position corresponds to the selected position.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/940,310, filed Nov. 5, 2010, which claims priority to Japanese PatentApplication No. JP 2009-272841, filed in the Japanese Patent Office onNov. 30, 2009, the entire contents of which is being incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND

In a field of medicine, pathology, or the like, there has been proposeda system that digitizes an image of a cell, a tissue, an organ, or thelike of a living body, that is obtained by an optical microscope, toexamine the tissue or the like by a doctor or a pathologist or diagnosea patient based on the digitized image.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-37250(hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a method inwhich an image optically obtained by a microscope is digitized by avideo camera with a CCD (charge coupled device), a digital signal isinput to a control computer system, and the image is visualized on amonitor. A pathologist performs examination while watching the imagedisplayed on the monitor (see, for example, paragraphs [0027] and [0028]and FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1).

In the case where a digital pathological image is displayed on a monitorof a computer system to perform a pathological diagnosis, a person whogives a diagnosis (hereinafter, referred to as “operator”) uses anoperation means such as a mouse and a keyboard to shift or performzoom-in or zoom-out on an observation position of the digitalpathological image on the screen of the monitor. In response to acommand of the movement or the zoom-in or zoom-out that is input fromthe operation means when the operator operates the operation means, aprogram of processing a browse of the digital pathological imageperforms a display processing in accordance with the command.

A typical program performs processing of the zoom-in or zoom-out of animage with the center of the image displayed on the screen being set asa reference. For this reason, in the case where a region of a part ofthe image displayed is intended to be observed in detail by performingthe zoom-in, the operator first has to input, using the operation means,a command for shifting the desired region of the image displayed toapproximately the center of the screen, and input a command forperforming the zoom-in on the region using the operation means uponcompletion of the shift. In this way, a plurality of operation steps areneeded, which is a factor of deterioration of the operation efficiency.In particular, in the case where a part that is necessary to be observedis located around a corner, there is fear that the part that isnecessary to be observed may be outside the screen due to the zoom-inoperation, and the operator misses a part that is necessary to beobserved. In such a case, the operator has to find again the part thatis necessary to be observed by shifting a display range of the image,for example, with the result that the deterioration of the operationefficiency is caused.

Further, in the typical program, processing of shifting the displayrange of the image with respect to a dragging operation of a mouse isallocated in many cases. However, in this system of shifting the displayrange of the image by the dragging operation of the mouse, the shift ofthe display range of the image is limited up to a position of the end ofthe screen to which a cursor pointer can be moved. To display a furtherdisplay range, it is necessary to input a command assigned to anoperation other than the dragging of the mouse, which also deterioratesthe operation efficiency.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is desirable to providean information processing apparatus, a method, and a computer-readablemedium capable of desirably performing observation of an image through achange in zoom magnification for display.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, amethod, and a computer-readable medium for controlling the display of animage obtained by a microscope in the field of medicine, pathology,biology, materials science, or the like.

In one example embodiment, an information processing apparatus includesa processor, a display device operatively coupled to the processor, aninput device operatively coupled to the processor, and a memory deviceoperatively coupled to the processor, the memory device storinginstructions that cause the processor, in cooperation with the displaydevice, the input device and the memory device, to: (a) display a firstimage associated with an observation target object (e.g., a section ofbiological tissue), the first image having: (i) a first zoommagnification; and (ii) a first display range having a first centerposition; (b) enable a user to change the first zoom magnification byselecting a first position of the displayed first image; and (c) inresponse to the first position being selected, display a second imageassociated with the observation target image, the second image having:(i) a second zoom magnification which is different from the first zoommagnification; and (ii) a second display range having a second centerposition which is different from the first center position, the secondcenter position corresponding to the selected position.

In one example embodiment, the displayed first image is observed by amicroscope.

In one example embodiment, the instructions cause the processor tooperate with the input device to enable the user to select the firstposition of the displayed first image using a displayed cursor pointer.In one example embodiment, when the first position is selected, a secondposition of the displayed cursor pointer corresponds to the selectedfirst position. In one example embodiment, the instructions cause theprocessor to operate with the display device to, in response to thefirst position being selected, display the cursor pointer at the secondcenter position.

In one example embodiment, the instructions cause the processor tooperate with the display device to, before the second image isdisplayed, display a third image. In one example embodiment, the thirdimage has a third zoom magnification which is different from the firstzoom magnification and the second zoom magnification. In this exampleembodiment, the third image has a third display range having a thirdcenter position which is different from the first center position andthe second center position.

In one example embodiment, the displayed third image includes a thirdposition which corresponds to the selected first position of the firstimage. In this example embodiment, a first distance between the thirdposition and the third center position is smaller than a second distancebetween the selected first position and the first center position. Inone example embodiment, the instructions cause the processor to operatewith the display device to display a cursor pointer at the thirdposition.

In one example embodiment, the information processing apparatus operatesusing a first mode. In this example embodiment, the instructions causethe processor to operate with the input device to: (i) enable the userchange the operation of the information processing apparatus from thefirst mode to a second, different mode; and (ii) in response to the userchanging the operation of the information processing apparatus to thesecond, different mode, and in response to the position being selected,display a fourth image associated with the observation target image. Inone example embodiment, the fourth image has a fourth zoom magnificationwhich is different from the first zoom magnification. The fourth imagealso has a fourth display range having a fourth center position whichcorresponds to the first center position.

In one example embodiment, the instructions cause the processor to: (a)after the second image is displayed, enable the user to change thesecond zoom magnification by zooming out; and (b) in response to the tosecond zoom magnification being changed by zooming out, display a fifthimage having a fifth display range having a fifth center position whichcorresponds to the second center position.

In one example embodiment, a method of operating an informationprocessing apparatus including instructions includes causing a processorto execute the instructions to operate with a display device to displaya first image associated with an observation target object (e.g., asection of biological tissue). In one example embodiment, the firstimage has a first zoom magnification and a first display range having afirst center position. In one example embodiment the method includescausing the processor to execute the instructions to operate with aninput device to enable a user to change the first zoom magnification byselecting a first position of the displayed first image. In one exampleembodiment, the method includes, in response to the first position beingselected, causing the processor to execute the instructions to operatewith the display device to display a second image associated with theobservation target image. In one example embodiment, the second imagehas: (i) a second zoom magnification which is different from the firstzoom magnification; and (ii) a second display range having a secondcenter position which is different from the first center position. Inone example embodiment, the second center position corresponds to theselected position.

In one example embodiment, the displayed first image is observed by amicroscope.

In one example embodiment, the method includes causing the processor toexecute the instructions to operate with the input device to enable theuser to select the first position of the displayed first image using adisplayed cursor pointer.

In one example embodiment, when the first position is selected, a secondposition of the displayed cursor pointer corresponds to the selectedfirst position.

In one example embodiment, the method includes, in response to the firstposition being selected, causing the processor to execute theinstructions to operate with the display device to display the cursorpointer at the second center position.

In one example embodiment, the method includes causing the processor toexecute the instructions to operate with the display device to, beforethe second image is displayed, display a third image having: (a) a thirdzoom magnification which is different from the first zoom magnificationand the second zoom magnification; and (b) a third display range havinga third center position which is different from the first centerposition and the second center position. In one example embodiment, thedisplayed third image includes a third position which corresponds to theselected first position of the first image. In this example embodiment,a first distance between the third position and the third centerposition is smaller than a second distance between the selected firstposition and the first center position. In one example embodiment, themethod includes causing the processor to execute the instructions tooperate with the display device to display a cursor pointer at the thirdposition.

In one example embodiment, the information processing apparatusoperating using a first mode. In one example embodiment, the methodincludes causing the processor to execute the instructions to operatewith the input device to: (i) enable the user change the operation ofthe information processing apparatus from the first mode to a second,different mode; and (ii) in response to the user changing the operationof the information processing apparatus to the second, different mode,and in response to the position being selected, display a fourth imageassociated with the observation target image. In this exampleembodiment, the fourth image has a fourth zoom magnification which isdifferent from the first zoom magnification. In this example embodiment,the fourth image also has a fourth display range having a fourth centerposition which corresponds to the first center position.

In one example embodiment, the method includes causing the processor toexecute the instructions to operate with the input device to, after thesecond image is displayed, enable the user to change the second zoommagnification by zooming out. In one example embodiment, the methodincludes, in response to the to second zoom magnification being changedby zooming out, causing the processor to execute the instructions tooperate with the display device to display a fifth image having a fifthdisplay range having a fifth center position which corresponds to thesecond center position.

In one example embodiment, a computer-readable medium storesinstructions structured to cause an information processing apparatus todisplay a first image associated with an observation target object. Inthis example embodiment, the first image has (i) a first zoommagnification; and (iii) a first display range having a first centerposition. In one example embodiment, the instructions are furtherstructured to cause the information processor apparatus to (a) enable auser to change the first zoom magnification by selecting a position ofthe displayed first image; and (c) in response to the position beingselected, display a second image associated with the observation targetimage. In this example embodiment, the second image has: (i) a secondzoom magnification which is different from the first zoom magnification;and (ii) a second display range having a second center position which isdifferent from the first center position. In one example embodiment, thesecond center position corresponds to the selected position.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the image can be desirably observed through the change thezoom magnification of the display.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of an example image processingsystem according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an example computersystem including at least an information processing apparatus accordingto an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example image pyramid structure of imagedata.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between the image pyramidstructure and a change in zoom magnification of an example display imagein a center fixation mode.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the image pyramidstructure and the change in the zoom magnification of the exampledisplay image in a center variability mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a functional structure for changing an imagedisplay range with the change in the zoom magnification in an exampleinformation processing apparatus according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example zoom-in in the centerfixation mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example zoom-in in the centervariability mode.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where the example display image ischanged in the center variability mode.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining shift of the example display rangewith a mouse dragging operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

[Structure of Information Processing Apparatus]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an example computersystem including at least an information processing apparatus accordingto an example embodiment of the present disclosure. As the informationprocessing apparatus, a PC (personal computer) 100 is used, for example.

The PC 100 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 101, a ROM (readonly memory) 102, a RAM (random access memory) 103, an input and outputinterface (hereinafter, abbreviated as I/O interface) 105, and a bus 104that connects those components with one another.

To the I/O interface 105, a display unit 106, an input unit 107, astorage unit 108, a communication unit 109, a drive unit 110, and thelike are connected.

The display unit 106 is a display device that uses liquid crystal, EL(electro-luminescence), a CRT (cathode ray tube), or the like.

The input unit 107 is, for example, a pointing device, a keyboard, atouch panel, or another operation apparatus. In the case where the inputunit 107 includes a touch panel, the touch panel may be integrated withthe display unit 106.

The storage unit 108 is a non-volatile memory such as an HDD (hard diskdrive), a flash memory, and another solid-state memory.

The drive unit 110 is a device capable of driving a removable recordingmedium 111 such as an optical recording medium, a floppy (registeredtrademark) disk, a magnetic recording tape, and a flash memory. Incontrast, the storage unit 108 is often used as a device that ispreviously included in the PC 100 and mainly drives a recording mediumthat is not removable.

The communication unit 109 is a modem, a router, or anothercommunication apparatus that is connectable to a LAN (local areanetwork), a WAN (wide area network), or the like and is used forcommunicating with another device. The communication unit 109 mayperform either one of a wired communication or a wireless communication.The communication unit 109 is used separately from the PC 100 in manycases.

[Pyramid Structure of Image Data and Access to Image Data]

Next, a description will be given on image data as a target of a displayprocessing performed by the information processing apparatus (PC 100) ofthis example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pyramid structure of the image data.

As shown in FIG. 2, target image data has a pyramid structure of imagedata obtained by picking up an image of an observation target objectusing an image pickup means of a high resolution. The pyramid structureof the image data refers to a structure in which a plurality of piecesof the image data at a plurality of resolutions obtained by reducing aresolution of an original image data stepwise are generated and set in alayered manner. The image data in each layer is divided into regionscalled “tiles” at a predetermined resolution. If the layers of thepyramid structure are represented by an N-th layer, an (N−1)-th layer,an (N−2)-th layer, . . . , a 0-th layer from the bottom, the numbers oftiles of the layers are determined to be 2^(N)*2^(N), 2^(N-1)*2^(N-1),2^(N-2)*2^(N-2), . . . , 1, respectively. It should be noted that theresolution of one tile is 256×256 (pixel) or 256×512 (pixel), forexample.

[Access to Image Data from Image Pyramid Structure]

When receiving a specification of an arbitrary resolution and a displayrange of an image by a user, the information processing apparatus (PC100) of this example embodiment reads corresponding image data fromamong the image pyramid structure by the tile, buffers the data read ina display-purpose buffer, and displays an image on the display unit 106.In addition, in the case where the user gives an instruction forshifting the display range of the image displayed on the display unit106, the information processing apparatus (PC 100) reads image data of ashift destination from among the image data items at the same resolutionby the tile in accordance with the instruction and updates the contentof the display-purpose buffer, thereby displaying the image of the shiftdestination on the display unit 106. It should be noted that the“display range of the image” refers to a region of image data that isactually displayed on a physical screen in an entire image data.Further, in the case where the user gives an instruction for changing azoom magnification (performing zoom-in or zoom-out) for the display, theinformation processing apparatus (PC 100) reads necessary image data bythe tile from among image data items at a resolution corresponding tothe zoom magnification specified and updates the content of thedisplay-purpose buffer, thereby changing the zoom magnification of thedisplay image. It should be noted that in the case where the size of animage display range in the physical image is set to be constant, whenthe zoom magnification is increased (when the zoom-in operation isperformed), the display range of the image is reduced, while when thezoom magnification is decreased (when the zoom-out operation isperformed), the display range of the image is increased. By reading thenecessary image data from the pyramid structure of the image data by thetile as described above, the total access time to the image data can besaved.

[Change in Zoom Magnification]

Next, a description will be given on the change in zoom magnification(zoom-in or zoom-out). The description is given with the assumption thatthe display range of the image has the size of 2×2 tiles.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between the image pyramidstructure and the change in the zoom magnification of the display image.In FIG. 3, image data D3 on an (N−3)-th layer is constituted of 2×2tiles, which is the same size as the display range of the image.Therefore, the entire image thereof is displayed on the physical screenas the display range. When the zoom magnification is increased by onelevel from such a state, a region of the 2×2 tiles in image data D2 thatis constituted of 4×4 tiles on the (N−2)-th layer corresponds to adisplay range 1 of the image. As a result, the image is displayed at 2×zoom. When the zoom magnification is further increased by one level, aregion of the 2×2 tiles in image data D1 that is constituted of 8×8tiles on the (N−1)-th layer corresponds to the display range 1 of theimage. As a result, the image is displayed at 4× zoom. When the zoommagnification is further increased by one level, a region of the 2×2tiles in image data D0 that is constituted of 16×16 tiles on the N-thlayer corresponds to the display range 1 of the image. As a result, theimage is displayed at 8× zoom. The same holds true for the case of thezoom-out. As described above, when the zoom magnification is changed,the resolution is changed, with the result that the display range 1 ofthe image, that is, the image from the viewpoint of the user is changed.

[Two Modes for Changing Image Display Range with Zoom MagnificationChange]

For the information processing apparatuses (PC 100) of this exampleembodiment, two modes are prepared as methods of changing the displayrange 1 of the image with the change in the zoom magnification. One is a“center fixation mode”, and the other is a “center variability mode”. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 6, in the center fixation mode, the center positionof the display range 1 in a coordinate space of the original image(image data on the N-th layer) is not varied before and after the changein the zoom magnification. In contrast, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, inthe center variability mode, the center position of the display range 1in the coordinate space of the original image is varied before and afterthe change in the zoom magnification.

More specifically, in the center variability mode, as shown in FIG. 4,the display range 1 of the image is changed with the change in the zoommagnification so that the coordinates corresponding to a position on thescreen that is indicated by a cursor pointer C1 before the change in thezoom magnification in the coordinate space of the original image iscoincided with the center position of the display image after the changein the zoom magnification. It should be noted that FIG. 4 shows the casewhere the cursor pointer on the screen is shifted from a position of C0to the position of C1 in the state where the image data of the (N−1)-thlayer is displayed, and then the instruction of the zoom-in is given.

The two modes can be used separately as necessary based on a setting setby the user. That is, with the use of the input unit 107, the user canmake a setting so that either one of the modes is effective. In responseto the setting, the CPU 101 stores the content of the setting in thestorage unit 108. Upon reception of the instruction for changing thezoom magnification from the user through the input unit 107, the CPU 101performs control to change the display range of the image in either ofthe two modes described above in accordance with the content of thesetting stored in the storage unit 108.

[Functional Structure to Change Image Display Range with ZoomMagnification Change]

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a functional structure for changing theimage display range with the change in the zoom magnification.

As shown in FIG. 5, the information processing apparatus (PC 100) ofthis example embodiment includes a cursor pointer coordinate calculationunit 201, a cursor pointer coordinate storage unit 202, and a displayprocessing unit 203, as the functional structure for changing the imagedisplay range with the change in the zoom magnification. Thosefunctional units are provided as a program for causing the typicalcomputer as described above to function. The program is stored in thestoring means such as the storage unit 108, and the CPU 101 loads theprogram from the storage unit 108 to the RAM (random access memory) 103as the main memory in order to display the image data on the displayunit 106, and interprets and executes the program. The functional unitsare as follows.

In the center variability mode, the cursor pointer coordinatecalculation unit 201 calculates, based on the positional data of acursor pointer on the screen, the coordinates in the original imagecoordinate space that are indicated by the cursor pointer.

The cursor pointer coordinate storage unit 202 stores the latestcoordinate data of the cursor pointer which is calculated by the cursorpointer coordinate calculation unit 201.

Upon input of a zoom magnification change request including a value of azoom magnification of a change destination using the input unit 107 bythe user, the display processing unit 203 changes the zoom magnificationof the display image in accordance with a preset mode (center fixationmode or center variability mode). Specifically, in the case where thecenter fixation mode is set, as shown in FIG. 6, the display processingunit 203 changes the zoom magnification without changing the coordinatesof the center in the original image coordinate space of the displayimage before and after the change of the zoom magnification. On theother hand, in the case where the center variability mode is set, asshown in FIG. 7, the display processing unit 203 obtains, from thecursor pointer coordinate storage unit 202, the coordinate data of theoriginal image coordinate space corresponding to a position on thescreen that is indicated by a cursor pointer C and changes the zoommagnification so that the coordinates are coincided with the centerposition of the display image after the change in the zoommagnification.

[Operation of Changing Zoom Magnification in Center Variability Mode]

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where the zoom magnification ischanged (zoom-in operation is performed) in the center variability mode.

In the figure, (A) is set as a display image before the change in thezoom magnification. The display image is based on the image data D3 ofthe 2×2 tiles on the (N−3)-th layer in the image data block structure.On the screen of the display unit 106 on which the display image isdisplayed, the cursor pointer C is displayed. The cursor pointer C canbe moved in any direction by any distance on the screen by operating amouse or the like by the user.

Here, the assumption is made that the cursor pointer C is operated bythe user using the mouse or the like and is moved to a position shown in(A) of FIG. 8. In this state, if the user operates the mouse or the liketo give an instruction for performing the zoom-in on the image on theN-th layer, the state of the image display is shifted from the state ofthe image display on the (N−3)-th layer shown in (A) of FIG. 8, throughthe state of an image display on the (N−2)-th layer shown in (B) of FIG.8 and the state of an image display on the (N−1)-th layer shown in (C)of FIG. 8, to the state of an image display on the N-th layer shown in(D) of FIG. 8. Here, the center position of the display image in theimage display state on the N-th layer corresponds to the coordinates inthe original image coordinate space that are indicated by the cursorpointer C at the time when the zoom-in instruction is given in the imagedisplay state on the (N−3)-th layer.

As described above, in the case where there is another layer of adifferent resolution between the layer of a resolution corresponding tothe original zoom magnification and the layer of a resolutioncorresponding to the target zoom magnification instead of changing tothe image display state at the target zoom magnification in one go, theshift to the image display state at the target zoom magnification iscarried out through the display image at the zoom magnificationcorresponding to the in-between layer.

Further, at this time, from the image display at the resolutioncorresponding to the original zoom magnification to the image display atthe resolution corresponding to the target zoom magnification, thedisplay processing unit 203 changes the display ranges of the images atthe respective resolutions so that the center positions of the displayimages at the resolutions gradually get close to the coordinates in theoriginal image coordinate space that are indicated by the cursor pointerC in the image display state at the resolution corresponding to theoriginal zoom magnification.

When an instruction is given for performing the zoom-out from the imagedisplay state on the N-th layer shown in (D) of FIG. 8 to the image onthe (N−3)-th layer by operating the mouse or the like by the user, theimage display state is shifted from the image display state on the N-thlayer shown in (D) of FIG. 8, through the image display state on the(N−1)-th layer shown in (E) of FIG. 8 and the image display state on the(N−2)-th layer shown in (F) of FIG. 8, to the image display state on the(N−3)-th layer shown in (G) of FIG. 8. As described above, in the caseof the zoom-out, as in the case of the zoom-in, if there is anotherlayer between the layer at the resolution corresponding to the originalzoom magnification and the layer at the resolution corresponding to thetarget zoom magnification, the shift to the image display state at thetarget zoom magnification is carried out through the image display atthe zoom magnification corresponding to the in-between layer. Inaddition, in the case of the zoom-out, from the image display at theresolution corresponding to the original zoom magnification to the imagedisplay at the resolution corresponding to the target zoommagnification, the display processing unit 203 also changes the displayranges of the images at the resolutions so that the center positions ofthe display images at the respective resolutions gradually get close tothe coordinates in the original image coordinate space that areindicated by the cursor pointer C in the image display state at theresolution corresponding to the original zoom magnification.

As a result, the zoom-in display and the zoom-out display areimplemented in a visually natural manner. Further, according to thisexample embodiment, in the case where the operator shifts the cursorpointer C to the part that is necessary to be observed in the image andthen inputs the instruction for the zoom-in, the display image ischanged to one at a higher resolution step by step and displayed. As aresult, the fear that the operator misses the part that is necessary tobe observed is reduced, which can increase the efficiency of theoperation. Further, in this case, the position of the part that isnecessary to be observed is moved to the center of the display imagestep by step, so the operator can be further prevented from missing thepart that is necessary to be observed. Thus, it is possible to desirablyobserve the image through the change in the zoom magnification for thedisplay.

[Shift of Display Range of Image with Mouse Dragging]

The display processing unit 203 shifts the display range of the imagealong with the movement operation of the cursor pointer C with a mouse.At this time, the display processing unit 203 can shift the displayrange of the image on the basis of the output from the mouse for themovement operation of the cursor pointer C irrespective of the movablerange of the cursor pointer C on the screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the shift of the display range of theimage with the mouse dragging. In (A) to (D) of FIG. 9, the state inwhich the shift of the display range of the image with the mousedragging is shown in a chronological order.

The display processing unit 203 performs processing so as to shift thedisplay range of the image in accordance with the mouse draggingoperation as follows. First, as shown in (A) of FIG. 9, the assumptionis made that the cursor pointer C of the mouse is set on the displayimage. In this state, when the cursor pointer C is moved leftward in (A)of FIG. 9 with the mouse dragging operation, the display processing unit203 shifts the display range of the image by the amount corresponding tothe amount of movement of the cursor pointer C in the movementdirection. In (B) of FIG. 9, the state is shown in which the cursorpointer C reaches the end of the display range of the screen with themouse dragging operation. In this way, the display range of the image isshifted with the movement of the cursor pointer C with the mousedragging operation. In the case where the operation input for moving thecursor pointer C leftward is further generated with the mouse draggingoperation in the state in which the cursor pointer C reaches the end ofthe display range of the screen, the display processing unit 203 shiftsonly the display range of the image with the cursor pointer C being puton the end of the display range of the screen. In (C) and (D) of FIG. 8,the shift of the display range of the image at this time is shown.

As a result, the shift of the display range of the image with themovement operation of the cursor pointer C with the mouse draggingoperation can be performed irrespective of the limitation of themovement of the cursor pointer C on the screen, which significantlyimproves the operability for the user.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the description is given on the casewhere the cursor pointer C is moved leftward on the figure with themouse dragging operation. Also in the case where the cursor pointer ismoved in any direction on the screen, the display of the image can beperformed irrespective of the limitation of the movement of the cursorpointer on the screen.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatuscomprising: a processor; a display device operatively coupled to theprocessor; an input device operatively coupled to the processor; and amemory device operatively coupled to the processor, the memory devicestoring instructions that cause the processor, in cooperation with thedisplay device, the input device and the memory device, to: display afirst image associated with an observation target object, the firstimage having a first zoom magnification and a first center position;change display range to a second image associated with the observationtarget object based on a first display mode or a second display mode inresponse to a zoom operation, wherein the first display mode is a firstcenter position of the second image in a first coordinate space wherethe first image is not valid, and in the first display mode, theinstruction, when executed by the processor, cause the processor, incooperation with the display device, the input device and the memorydevice, to change the first zoom magnification without changing firstcoordinates of the first center position in the first coordinate spacebefore and after change of the first zoom magnification; and the seconddisplay mode is a second center position of the second image in a secondcoordinate space where the first image is valid, and in the seconddisplay mode, the instructions, when executed by the processor, causethe processor, in cooperation with the display device, the input deviceand the memory device, to obtain, from a cursor pointer coordinatestorage unit, second coordinates in the first image coordinate spacecorresponding to a first position on a screen of the display device thatis indicated by a cursor pointer, and change the first zoommagnification so that the second coordinates are coincided with thesecond center position of the second image after change of the firstzoom magnification.
 2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1,wherein the observation target object includes a section of biologicaltissue.
 3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein thedisplayed first image is observed by a microscope.
 4. The informationprocessing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executedby the processor, cause the processor to operate with the input deviceto enable a user to select the first position of the displayed firstimage using the cursor pointer.
 5. The information processing apparatusof claim 4, wherein when the first position is selected, a secondposition of the displayed cursor pointer corresponds to the selectedfirst position.
 6. The information processing apparatus of claim 4,wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to operate with the display device to, in response to thefirst position being selected, display the cursor pointer at the secondcenter position.
 7. The information processing apparatus of claim 4,wherein the second center position is closer to the first position thanthe first center position.
 8. The information processing apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the second image is a portion of the first image. 9.The information processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein before thesecond image is displayed, the instructions, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to display a third image having a thirdzoom magnification which is different from the first zoom magnificationand the second zoom magnification and a third center position which isdifferent from the first center position and the second center position,wherein the displayed third image includes a third position whichcorresponds to the selected first position of the first image; and afirst distance between the third position and the third center positionis smaller than a second distance between the selected first positionand the first center position.
 10. A method of operating an informationprocessing apparatus including instructions, the method comprising:causing a processor to execute the instructions to operate with adisplay device to display a first image associated with an observationtarget object, the first image having a first zoom magnification and afirst center position; causing the processor to execute the instructionsto operate with the display device to change display range to a secondimage associated with the observation target object based on a firstdisplay mode or a second display mode in response to a zoom operation,wherein the first display mode is a first center position of the secondimage in a first coordinate space where the first image is not valid,and in the first display mode, the instruction, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor operate with a display device to changethe first zoom magnification without changing first coordinates of thefirst center position in the first coordinate space before and afterchange of the first zoom magnification; and the second display mode is asecond center position of the second image in a second coordinate spacewhere the first image is valid, and in the second display mode, theinstructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processoroperate with a display device to obtain, from a cursor pointercoordinate storage unit, second coordinates in the first imagecoordinate space corresponding to a first position on a screen of thedisplay device that is indicated by a cursor pointer, and change thefirst zoom magnification so that the second coordinates are coincidedwith the second center position of the second image after change of thefirst zoom magnification.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein theobservation target object includes a section of biological tissue. 12.The method of claim 10, wherein the displayed first image is observed bya microscope.
 13. The method of claim 10, which includes causing theprocessor to execute the instructions to operate with the input deviceto enable a user to select the first position of the displayed firstimage using the cursor pointer.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein whenthe first position is selected, a second position of the displayedcursor pointer corresponds to the selected first position.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, which includes, in response to the first positionbeing selected, causing the processor to execute the instructions tooperate with the display device to display the cursor pointer at thesecond center position.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the secondcenter position is closer to the first position than the first centerposition.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second image is aportion of the first image.
 18. The method of claim 17, which includes,before the second image is displayed, displaying a third image having athird zoom magnification which is different from the first zoommagnification and the second zoom magnification and a third centerposition which is different from the first center position and thesecond center position, wherein the displayed third image includes athird position which corresponds to the selected first position of thefirst image; and a first distance between the third position and thethird center position is smaller than a second distance between theselected first position and the first center position.
 19. Aninformation processing apparatus comprising: a processor; a displaydevice operatively coupled to the processor; an input device operativelycoupled to the processor; and a memory device operatively coupled to theprocessor, the memory device storing instructions that cause theprocessor, in cooperation with the display device, the input device andthe memory device, to: display a first image associated with anobservation target object, the first image having a first zoommagnification and a first center position; change display range to thefirst center position when a zooming operation of the first image isinput; enable a user to select a first position of the displayed firstimage using a displayed cursor pointer; in response to the firstposition being selected, display the cursor pointer at a second centerposition; display a second image associated with the observation targetimage in response to the first position being selected by the user, thesecond image having a second zoom magnification which is different froma first zoom magnification of the first image and a second centerposition which is different from the first center position, wherein thesecond center position is based on the coordinates of the first positionselected by the user using the input device, and the second centerposition is closer to the first position than the first center position;change display ranges of images at respective resolutions so that thecoordinates of the selected first position are coincided with those of acenter position of the display range at a target resolution, the secondimage being a portion of the first image; and before the second image isdisplayed, display a third image having a third zoom magnification whichis different from the first zoom magnification and the second zoommagnification and a third center position which is different from thefirst center position and the second center position, wherein thedisplayed third image includes a third position which corresponds to theselected first position of the first image.